Absorbent article with extensible ears

ABSTRACT

An absorbent article has a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet; first and second opposing longitudinal side edges, a front waist region and a back waist region; and a first and second back ear extending outwardly from the first and longitudinal side edges in the back waist region, respectively. The first and second back ears have an engineering strain greater than about 8% at about or below 2N of force when measured according to the Back Ear Extension Test, and a roughness Ra lower than about 300 μm when measured according to the Roughness Test.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to absorbent articles having extensibleears.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Absorbent articles are widely used to receive and store liquidcontaminants for disposal. Commonly known absorbent articles includediapers, pull-on, pant-type diapers, adult incontinence articles,sanitary napkins, and panty liners. To effectively contain bodilyexudates, the article should provide a snug fit around the waist andlegs of a wearer.

It is not uncommon for absorbent articles to include elastic areas suchas an elastic waist region and extensible ears to control the movementof liquids and provide a comfortable, conforming fit when the article isworn by a wearer.

Some absorbent articles such as diapers are manufactured to include backears. For example, some varieties of diapers are manufactured with apair of oppositely-oriented side back ears, extending laterally fromeach side of a back waist region of the diaper chassis, each back earhaving a fastener located at or near the outboard edge thereof, andadapted to attach or adhere to a fastener receiving zone (“landingzone”) disposed on a front waist region of the chassis. When the diaperis applied, back ears may traverse at least part of a high motion hipregion of a wearer; therefore, extensible back ears are preferred overback ears without extensibility. Provision of extensibility on a diaperalong a waist circumference using extensible back ears may be preferredas back ears are not constrained at application by a wearer laying on itwhile back waistband is. When the diaper is applied, each back ear maybe in direct contact with the wearer's skin at a hip; therefore,extensible back ears having low roughness for being soft and gentle tothe skin are preferred.

In some diapers, the back ears are formed at least in part of a laminateof one or more layers of nonwoven web and one or more layers or strandsof a polymeric elastic material, and fashioned and adapted in such a wayas to be elastically extensible in at least the direction in which theback ear is to be pulled during application and use. When worn, the backears extend the diaper about the hip and waist of the wearer to anchorthe diaper in use while still allowing the wearer to move comfortably. Afastening system is typically joined to the back ear to further securethe absorbent article about the wearer.

Elastic laminates suitable for extensible back ears may be produced bymethods well known in the industry. For example, elastic laminates maybe produced by joining one or more nonwoven layers and an elasticmaterial at approximately zero relative strain where the nonwovenlayer(s) and the elastic material may be bonded using adhesive. Thenonwoven layer(s) and the elastic material may be bonded by one or moreelastic layers being extruded directly on to at least one nonwovenlayer.

There have been many absorbent articles employing high modulus back earsto maximize a sustained fit and minimize leakage of bodily exudates.High modulus back ears require users to use a relatively high force toextend the back ears and low force users may not be able to achieve agood sustained fit and minimal leakage with a product comprising highmodulus back ears.

Some absorbent articles comprise back ears having low modulus stretch.Low modulus stretch may be achieved by utilizing strands of elastomericmaterial. Elastic strands may provide less elastomeric material percross-sectional area of the back ear, and require less force to extend.Elastic strands when used to produce elastic materials such as strandedlaminates, however, do not create a uniform and even surface.Additionally, stranded laminates may have large surface gathers due toits bonding structure. Non-uniform surfaces and large surface gathersmay cause skin marking and irritation when worn by a wearer. Non-uniformsurfaces and large surface gathers may also be perceived as the productusing the material is less holistically designed or has lower quality.

Meanwhile, the presence of multiple components in an absorbent articlemay not be favored by users in view of holistic product perception.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide absorbent articles with back earshaving an appropriately designed stretch engine for users to use thestretch during diaper application to achieve better fit and sizing.

It is also desirable to provide absorbent articles with back ears havinga more even surface and reducing the risk of skin marking when worn by awearer.

It is also desirable to provide absorbent articles having holisticintegrated perception.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an absorbent article comprising aliquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbentcore disposed between the topsheet and backsheet; a first and a secondopposing longitudinal side edges, a front waist region and a back waistregion; a first and second back ear extending outwardly from the firstand longitudinal side edges in the back waist region, respectively;wherein each of the first and second back ears has an engineering straingreater than about 8% at about or below 2N of force when measuredaccording to the Back Ear Extension Test, and wherein each of the firstand second back ears have a roughness Ra lower than about 300 μm whenmeasured according to the Roughness Test.

The present invention also relates to an absorbent article comprising aliquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbentcore disposed between the topsheet and backsheet; first and secondopposing longitudinal side edges, a front waist region and a back waistregion; a first and second back ear extending outwardly from the firstand longitudinal side edges in the back waist region, respectively;wherein each of the first and second back ears has an engineering straingreater than about 8% at about or below 2N of force when measuredaccording to the Back Ear Extension Test, and wherein each of the firstand second back ears have about 1% to about 20% of a 4 hr growth whenmeasured according to the 4 hr Growth Test.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like numerals or other designations designate likefeatures throughout the views.

FIG. 1A is schematic plan view of an exemplary absorbent articleaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 1B is schematic plan view of another exemplary absorbent articleaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of an exemplary ear for the presentinvention. The ear is shown in a flat, unextended state.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary ear for thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of an exemplary ultrasonic bondingpattern for an elastic material for a back ear for the presentinvention.

FIGS. 5A-5D are plan views of the Roughness Test.

FIG. 6 is a schematic graph for Ra calculation in the Roughness Test.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various non-limiting forms of the present disclosure will now bedescribed to provide an overall understanding of the principles of thestructure, function, manufacture, and use of an absorbent articlecomprising back ears having unique engineering strain properties and lowsurface roughness. One or more examples of these non-limitingembodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those ordinaryskilled in the art will understand that the absorbent articles describedherein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limitingexample forms and that the scope of the various non-limiting forms ofthe present disclosure are defined solely by the claims. The featuresillustrated or described in connection with one non-limiting form may becombined with the features of other non-limiting forms. Suchmodifications and variations are intended to be included within thescope of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the term “absorbent article” refers to disposabledevices such as infant, child, or adult diapers, adult incontinenceproducts, training pants, sanitary napkins and the like which are placedagainst or in proximity to a body of a wearer to absorb and contain thevarious fluids (urine, menses, and/or runny BM) or bodily exudates(generally solid BM) discharged from the body. Typically, theseabsorbent articles comprise a topsheet, backsheet, an absorbent core,leg cuffs, optionally an acquisition system and/or a distribution system(which may be comprised of one or several layers), and typically othercomponents, with the absorbent core normally placed at least partiallybetween the backsheet and the acquisition and/or distribution system orbetween the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent articlescomprising back ears having unique engineering strain properties and lowsurface roughness will be further illustrated in the below descriptionand in the Figures in the form of one or more components of tapeddiaper. Nothing in this description should be, however, consideredlimiting the scope of the claims. As such the present disclosure appliesto any suitable form of absorbent articles (e.g., diapers, trainingpants, adult incontinence products, sanitary napkins).

“Elastic,” “elastomeric,” and “elastically extensible” mean the abilityof a material to stretch by at least 25% without rupture or breakage ata given load, and upon release of the load the elastic material orcomponent exhibits at least 80% recovery (i.e., has less than 20% set).

As used herein, the term “extensible” refers to the property of amaterial, wherein: when a biasing force is applied to the material, thematerial can be extended to an elongated length of at least 110% of itsoriginal relaxed length (i.e. can extend 10%), without a rupture orbreakage that renders the material unusable for its intended purpose. Amaterial that does not meet this definition is considered inextensible.In some embodiments, an extensible material may be able to be extendedto an elongated length of 125% or more of its original relaxed lengthwithout rupture or breakage that renders the material unusable for itsintended purpose. An extensible material may or may not exhibit recoveryafter application of a biasing force.

As used herein, the term “film” means a sheet-like material wherein thelength and width of the material far exceed the thickness of thematerial (e.g., 10×, 50×, or even 1000× or more). Films are typicallyliquid impermeable but may be configured to be breathable.

As used herein, “inboard”, and forms thereof, with respect to featuresof a back ear, means furthest from or in a direction away from the freedistal end.

As used herein, the term “joined”, “bonded”, or “attached” encompassesconfigurations whereby an element is directly secured to another elementby affixing the element directly to the other element, andconfigurations whereby an element is indirectly secured to anotherelement by affixing the element to intermediate member(s) which in turnare affixed to the other element.

As used herein, the term “Junction line,” with respect to a back earcomprising components that are discrete from other components of anabsorbent article, which back ear is welded, bonded, adhered orotherwise attached to the absorbent article, referring to FIG. 1A, meansa longitudinal line 412, parallel with a longitudinal axis 100 of theabsorbent article 20, through the outboard-most point in a chassisattachment bond 45 at which the back ear is bonded to the chassis. Note:In some examples of back ears, the back ear is bonded to the chassis tohave an irregular shape or orientation; in such examples, the point atwhich such shape or orientation are closest to an outboard edge of theback ear will mark the location of the junction line. “Junction line,”with respect to a back ear comprising one or more components that arenot discrete from, but rather, integral with, one or more components ofa diaper chassis that is disposed in an opened, extended position andlaid flat and horizontally, viewed from above, referring to FIG. 1B,means a line 412 parallel to the longitudinal axis 100 through the edgeof the chassis 22 at its narrowest point 21.

As used herein, the term “lateral” (and forms thereof), with respect toa line lying in a plane substantially occupied by an absorbent articleback ear laid flat and horizontally, viewed from above, relates to adirection substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of theabsorbent article. “Lateral” and “width” (and forms thereof), withrespect to features of an absorbent article back ear, relates to adirection, or generally following a direction, partially or entirelyperpendicular to a longitudinal axis along the absorbent article.“Lateral” and “width” (and forms thereof), with respect to features of adiaper chassis, relates to a direction substantially parallel to thelateral axis of the chassis.

As used herein, the term “lateral axis” with respect to an absorbentarticle adapted to be worn by a wearer, means an axis perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis, and equally dividing the longitudinal length ofthe article.

As used herein, the term “longitudinal” and “length” (and formsthereof), with respect to a line lying in a plane substantially occupiedby an absorbent article back ear laid flat and horizontally, viewed fromabove, relates to a direction approximately aligned with the wearer'sspine when the article would be normally worn, with the wearer in astanding or extended reclining position. “Longitudinal” and “length”(and forms thereof), with respect to features of a back ear, relates toa direction, or generally following a direction approximately alignedwith the wearer's spine when the article would be normally worn, withthe wearer in a standing or extended reclining position. “Longitudinal”and “length” (and forms thereof), with respect to features of a diaperchassis, relates to a direction approximately aligned with the wearer'sspine when the article would be normally worn, with the wearer in astanding or extended reclining position.

As used herein, the term “longitudinal axis” with respect to anabsorbent article adapted to be worn by a wearer, means an axisapproximately aligned with the wearer's spine when the article would benormally worn, with the wearer in a standing or extended recliningposition, and equally dividing the lateral width of the article, thelateral width being measured along a direction generally, parallel tothe lateral axis.

As used herein, the term “nonwoven” means a porous, fibrous materialmade from continuous (long) filaments (fibers) and/or discontinuous(short) filaments (fibers) by processes such as, for example,spunbonding, meltblowing, airlaying, carding, coforming,hydroentangling, and the like. Nonwovens do not have a woven or knittedfilament pattern. Nonwovens may be liquid permeable or impermeable.

As used herein, the term “outboard”, and forms thereof, with respect tofeatures of a fastening member, means at or in a direction toward itsfree distal end.

Where features or elements of claims set forth herein are identified as“lines” or “line segments” or “points”, such lines, line segments orpoints are not actual physical features themselves unless otherwisespecified, but rather, are geometric references intended for use indescribing locations on a physical structure.

Absorbent Article

Chassis

Referring to FIG. 1A, a diaper 20, an example of absorbent articles,comprises a chassis comprising a liquid pervious topsheet 24, a liquidimpervious backsheet 26 and an absorbent core 28 disposed between thetopsheet 24 and backsheet 26. The garment-facing surface 120 of thediaper 20 is facing the viewer. The diaper 20 includes a longitudinalcenterline 100 and a lateral centerline 110. The diaper 20 includes afront waist region 36, a back waist region 38 opposed to the front waistregion 36, and a crotch region 37 located between the front waist region36 and the back waist region 38. The waist regions 36, 38 generallycomprise those portions of the diaper 20 which, when worn, encircle thewaist of the wearer. The waist regions 36 and 38 may include an elasticelement that may gather or allow the material to extend in the frontand/or back waist region 36, 38 about the waist of the wearer to provideimproved fit and containment. The crotch region 37 is that portion ofthe diaper 20 which, when the diaper 20 is worn, is generally positionedbetween the legs of the wearer. The outer periphery of the diaper 20 isdefined by longitudinal side edges 12 and end edges 14. The opposinglongitudinal side edges 12 may be oriented generally parallel to thelongitudinal centerline 100. Elastic elements may be disposed adjacentthe side edges 12 of the diaper 20 to form gasket cuffs when the diaper20 is in a fastened configuration.

The diaper 20 shown in FIG. 1A includes a liquid permeable topsheet 24,a liquid impermeable backsheet 26, and an absorbent core 28 disposedtherebetween. The absorbent core 28 may have a body-facing surface and agarment facing-surface. The topsheet 24, the backsheet 26, and theabsorbent core 28 may be assembled in a variety of well-knownconfigurations. For example, the topsheet 24 may be joined to the core28 and/or the backsheet 26. The backsheet 26 may be joined to the core28 and/or the topsheet 24. It should be recognized that otherstructures, elements, or substrates may also be positioned in a joinedor unjoined relationship between the core 28, the topsheet 24 and/or thebacksheet 26. Nonlimiting examples of suitable diaper configurations aredescribed generally in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,860,003; 4,808,178; 4,909,803;5,151,092; 5,221,274; 5,554,145; 5,569,234; 5,580,411; 6,004,306; and7,626,073; and U.S. Publication No. 2007/0249254A.

The topsheet 24 typically includes a portion of the diaper 20 that ispositioned at least in partial contact or close proximity to a wearer.Suitable topsheets 24 may be manufactured from a wide range ofmaterials, such as porous foams; reticulated foams; apertured films; orwoven or nonwoven web of natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers),synthetic fibers, or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers; ormultilayer laminates of these materials. Generally, at least a portionof the topsheet 24 is liquid pervious, permitting liquid to readilypenetrate through the thickness of the topsheet 24. Any portion of thetopsheet 24 may be coated with a lotion as is known in the art. Examplesof suitable lotions include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,607,760;5,609,587; 5,635,191; and 5,643,588.

The absorbent core 28 may comprise a wide variety of liquid-absorbentmaterials commonly used in disposable diapers and other absorbentarticles (e.g., superabsorbent polymer particles (“SAP”) and/orairfelt). These materials may be combined to provide a core 28 in theform of one or more layers, which may include fluid handling layers suchas acquisition layers, distribution layers and storage layers. Suchabsorbent cores 28 may also include layers to stabilize other corecomponents. Such layers may include a core cover and a dusting layer. Incertain embodiments, the absorbent core 28 may include less than 20 wt %of airfelt, based on weight of the absorbent core 28, or the absorbentcore 28 may even be airfelt-free. Exemplary absorbent structures for useas the absorbent core 28 are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,610,678;4,673,402; 4,834,735; 4,888,231; 5,137,537; 5,147,345; 5,342,338;5,260,345; 5,387,207; 5,397,316; and 5,625,222; 7,750,203; and7,744,576.

The backsheet 26 may be positioned such that it includes at least aportion of the garment-facing surface 120 of the diaper 20. Thebacksheet 26 may be designed to prevent the exudates absorbed by andcontained within the diaper 20 from soiling articles that may contactthe diaper 20, such as bed sheets and undergarments. In certainembodiments, the backsheet 26 is substantially water-impermeable. Onesuitable backsheet 26 materials may include breathable materials thatpermit vapors to escape from the diaper 20 while still preventingexudates from passing through the backsheet 26. Such breathablecomposite materials are described in greater detail in PCT ApplicationNo. WO 95/16746 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,823. Other breathable backsheetsincluding nonwoven webs and apertured formed films are described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,571,096. An exemplary, suitable backsheet is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,107,537. Other suitable materials and/or manufacturingtechniques may be used to provide a suitable backsheet 26 including, butnot limited to, surface treatments, particular film selections andprocessing, particular filament selections and processing, etc.

The backsheet 26 may also include more than one layer configured, forexample, as discrete, unjoined layers or as laminate. It is to beappreciated that such laminate structures are not limited to thebacksheet 26, but may be incorporated into any of the diaper 20components described herein or commonly known in the art (e.g., ears orsides panels), as desired.

The diaper 20 may also include a fastening system 50. When fastened, thefastening system 50 typically interconnects the front waist region 36and the back waist region 38 resulting in a waist circumference thatgenerally encircles a wearer of the diaper 20. Exemplary surfacefastening systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,848,594; 4,662,875;4,846,815; 4,894,060; 4,946,527; 5,151,092; and 5,221,274. An exemplaryinterlocking fastening system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,098.The fastening system 50 may also provide a means for holding the articlein a disposal configuration as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,140. Thefastening system 50 may also include primary and secondary fasteningsystems, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,622. The fastening system50 may be constructed to reduce shifting of overlapped portions or toimprove fit as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,242,436; 5,499,978;5,507,736; and 5,591,152.

In certain embodiments, a portion of the fastening system 50 may bedisposed on one or more ears, including for example front ears 40disposed in the front waist regions and/or back ears 42 disposed in theback waist region. For example, the fastening system 50 exemplified inFIG. 1A, which includes a fastening member 52 and a landing zone 54, maybe configured with the fastening member 52 disposed on the back ear 42.The fastening member 52 includes a fastener 53 that is engageable with acomplementary receiving surface on the landing zone 54 and/or anotherportion of the diaper 20. In certain embodiments, the fastening member52 may be an integral part of the back ear 42. When fastened, thefastening member 52 interconnects the front waist region 36 and the backwaist region 38 resulting in a waist circumference that may encircle thewearer during wear of the absorbent diaper 20. The fastening member 52may comprise a fastener 53 such as adhesives, hook and loop fasteningcomponents, interlocking fasteners such as tabs & slots, buckles,buttons, snaps, and/or hermaphroditic fastening components, although anyother known fastening means are generally acceptable. An engagementelement 53 also may include groups of separately identifiable fasteningelements such as a plurality of discrete patches of adhesive-bearingmaterial, discrete patches of hooks, etc.

The fastening system 50 may further comprise a landing zone to which afastener can engage and/or a release tape that protects the fasteningelements from insult prior to use. Some exemplary surface fasteningsystems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,848,594; 4,662,875; 4,846,815;4,894,060; 4,946,527; 5,151,092; and 5,221,274. An exemplaryinterlocking fastening system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,098.In some embodiments, the fastening member 52 is foldable.

The fastening member 52 may be joined to any suitable portion of thediaper 20 by any suitable means. In some embodiments, the fasteningmember 52 is joined to the ear. The fastening member may be joined tothe ear between layers. The fastening member may be joined to the ear onan exterior surface. In one nonlimiting example, the fastening member 52and/or fastener 53 are mechanically bonded to the ear.

Back Ears

The diaper 20 may include one or more ears 40, 42, which extendlaterally outwardly from one or both side edges 12 in the front and/orback waist regions 36, 38. Front ears 40 and/or back ears 42 may extendin the longitudinal direction from the end edge 14 of the diaper 20 tothe portion of the side edge 12 of the diaper 20 that forms the legopenings when the diaper 20 is in a fastened configuration. The frontears 40 or the back ears 42 may be discrete components from othercomponents of the diaper 20. For example, back ears 42 are welded,bonded, adhered or otherwise attached via a chassis attachment bond 45to the diaper 20. The front ears 40 or the back ears 42 may be integralwith a chassis component forming an extension thereof such that thefront ears 40 or the back ears 42 may be configured as unitary elementsof the backsheet, topsheet, core and/or another component in the chassis(i.e., they are formed from and are extensions of the backsheet,topsheet, core and/or the component materials), or the front ears 40 orthe back ears 42 may be discrete component affixed to portions ofchassis by any suitable means known in the art.

One or more of ears 40, 42, at least back ear 42, may be extensible orelastic. Ears 40 and/or 42 may be formed from one or more nonwoven webs,woven webs, knitted fabrics, polymeric and elastomeric films, aperturedfilms, sponges, foams, scrims, elastic strands, elastic nonwovens orcombinations and/or laminates of any the foregoing.

FIG. 2 illustrates a discrete back ear. Back ear 42 may include anoutboard edge 46 and an inboard edge 48. The outboard edge 46 is thefree distal longitudinal edge of the ear when said ear is joined to thechassis. The inboard edge 48 is substantially opposed to the outboardedge and is joined to or overlapped with the chassis when the ear isjoined to the chassis. Ears may further include a first lateral edge 41and an opposing second lateral edge 43.

In some embodiments, one or more of the ears 40, 42, especially back ear42, may include an elastomeric material, such that the ear isextensible. In certain embodiments, back ear 42 may be formed of astretch laminate such as a nonwoven/elastomeric material laminate or anonwoven/elastomeric material/nonwoven laminate, which also results inthe ear being extensible. Back ear 42 may be extensible laterally. Insome embodiments, the back ear 42 is also extensible longitudinally.

In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 3 , one or more of the ears 40,42, especially back ear 42, comprises a first nonwoven layer 400, asecond nonwoven layer 402 and an elastomeric layer 404. The elastomericlayer 404 may be sandwiched between the first and second nonwovens. Theelastomeric layer 404 may be the same size as the first and secondnonwoven layers 400, 402. The elastomeric layer 404 may be a smallersize than the first and second nonwoven layers 400, 402. The firstnonwoven layer 400 may be formed by the same or different nonwovenmaterial from the second nonwoven layer 402. The back ear may include atleast one additional layer comprising, for example, nonwoven, aninelastic material, elastic or extensible material, etc.

Any suitable nonwoven may be used in one or more of the ears 40, 42.Suitable nonwoven webs can be formed by direct extrusion processesduring which the fibers and webs are formed at about the same point intime, or by preformed fibers which can be laid into webs at a distinctlysubsequent point in time. Example direct extrusion processes include butare not limited to: spunbonding, meltblowing, solvent spinning,electrospinning, and combinations thereof typically forming layers.

Example of nonwoven combination includes but are not limited tospunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS), spunbond-carded (SC),spunbond-airlaid (SA), meltblown-airlaid (MA), and combinations thereof,typically in layers. Combinations which include direct extrusion can becombined at about the same point in time as the direct extrusion process(e.g., spinform and coform for SA and MA), or at a subsequent point intime. In the above examples, one or more individual layers can becreated by each process. For instance, SMS can mean a three layer, ‘sms’web, a five layer ‘ssmms’ web, or any reasonable variation thereofwherein the lower case letters designate individual layers and the uppercase letters designate the compilation of similar, adjacent layers. Thefibers in a nonwoven web are typically joined to one or more adjacentfibers at some of the overlapping junctions. This includes joiningfibers within each layer and joining fibers between layers when there ismore than one layer. Fibers can be joined by mechanical entanglement, bychemical bond, ultrasonic bond, mechanical pressure bonds, thermalbonds, or adhesives or by combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, nonwoven fabric can be unbonded nonwoven webs,electrospun nonwoven webs, flashspun nonwoven webs (e.g., TYVEK™ byDuPont), or combinations thereof. These fabrics can comprise fibers ofpolyolefins such as polypropylene or polyethylene, polyesters,polyamides, polyurethanes, elastomers, rayon, cellulose, copolymersthereof, or blends thereof or mixtures thereof. The nonwoven fabrics canalso comprise fibers that are homogenous structures or comprisebicomponent structures such as sheath/core, side-by-side,islands-in-the-sea, and other bicomponent configurations. For a detaileddescription of some nonwovens, see “Nonwoven Fabric Primer and ReferenceSampler” by E. A. Vaughn, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Indus-3dEdition (1992).

In one approach, nonwoven web can be made of bi-component ormulti-component fibers. One of the components of the fibers, preferablyouter component, is soft polymer such as polyethylene or elasticpolyolefin, polyurethane. For example, in sheath/core bi-componentfiber, sheath can be made of polyethylene while core can be made ofpolypropylene.

In another approach, nonwoven web can be made of mono-component fiber.However, fiber is made of polymer blend to impart silky soft feel. Forexample, polypropylene nonwoven can be coarse. However, when blendedwith elastomeric polypropylene (VISTAMAXX® from Exxon), it can helpimprove the feel of the fiber.

In another approach, nonwoven web can be made of elastomeric polymer.For example, elastomeric polyolefins are used in fibers spinning and tomake nonwoven web. Such webs have very sleek feel, and elasticproperties, that is often desired for consumer products.

In another approach, additives can be added to polymer before spinningfiber. During fiber spinning and subsequent process steps to makenonwoven web, the additives migrate to fiber surface to provide silkyfeel. Amine and Amide based additives are commonly used up to 5% toimpart softness.

In another approach, sleek chemical finish can be coated on the fibersor nonwoven webs. Chemical finishes based on oil, silicone, esters,fatty acids, surfactant etc. can be employed. Softeners such as anionic,cationic or nonionic can also be used to improve drape, and touch.Various coating techniques, like roll coating, screen coating, gravurecoating, slot coating, spray coating, can be used to apply finish.

In another approach, nonwoven fiber diameter can be reduced to producefine fibers and to provide silk like feel. Meltblown fiber is onetechnology to reduce fiber diameter to less than 20 microns.Alternatively, nanofibers, having a diameter of less than 1 micron, madefrom a melt film fibrillation process with a polymer compositiondisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,835,709 patent can be used to providesoftness.

In nonlimiting examples, a nonwoven comprises a meltblown layer.Additionally or alternatively, a nonwoven may comprise spunbond layers.In a nonlimiting example, a nonwoven comprises two or more spunbondlayers. In further nonlimiting examples, one or more nonwovens maycomprise a SMS configuration. Alternatively, one or more of thenonwovens in the ear may be void of meltblown layers. While meltblownlayers have been found to enhance bonding in ears requiring adhesive(given the meltblown layer's inhibition of the adhesive's diffusionthrough the porous nonwoven structure), meltblown layers often lackstrength. In some embodiments, a nonwoven consists essentially ofspunbond layers. In some nonlimiting examples, both the first and thesecond nonwoven comprises at least 2 spunbond layers, or 3 or morespunbond layers.

Where one or more of the ears 40, 42 comprise more than one nonwoven,the nonwovens may comprise the same basis weight or different basisweights. Likewise, the nonwovens may comprise the same layer structureor different layer structures. Further, a nonwoven in the ear maycomprise the same or different features of nonwovens in the backsheet,topsheet, leg gasketing system and/or waist feature.

The elastomeric layer 404 comprises one or more elastomeric materialswhich provide elasticity to at least a portion of the layer 404.Nonlimiting examples of elastomeric materials include film (e.g.,polyurethane films, films derived from rubber and/or other polymericmaterials), an elastomeric coating applied to another substrate (e.g., ahot melt elastomer, an elastomeric adhesive, printed elastomer orelastomer co-extruded to another substrate), elastomeric nonwovens,elastic strands, scrims, and the like. Elastomeric materials can beformed from elastomeric polymers including polymers comprising styrenederivatives, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyether amides, polyolefins,polyvinyl chloride, combinations thereof or any suitable knownelastomers. Exemplary elastomers and/or elastomeric materials aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,618,350; 6,410,129; 7,819,853; 8,795,809;7,806,883; 6,677,258 and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2009/0258210. Commerciallyavailable elastomeric materials include KRATON (styrenic blockcopolymer; available from the Kraton Chemical Company, Houston, Tex.),SEPTON (styrenic block copolymer; available from Kuraray America, Inc.,New York, N.Y.), VECTOR (styrenic block copolymer; available from TSRCDexco Chemical Company, Houston, Tex.), ESTANE (polyurethane; availablefrom Lubrizol, Inc, Ohio), PEBAX (polyether block amide; available fromArkema Chemicals, USA), HYTREL (polyester; available from DuPont, USA),VISTAMAXX (homopolyolefins and random copolymers, and blends of randomcopolymers, available from EXXON Mobile, USA), and VERSIFY(homopolyolefins and random copolymers, and blends of random copolymers,available from Dow Chemical Company, USA).

In nonlimiting examples, the elastomeric layer 404 comprises a film. Thefilm may comprise a single layer or multiple layers. The film may beelastic in the lateral direction. The elastomeric layer 404 may comprisea width, Y, as shown for example in FIGS. 2 and 3 . In some embodiments,Y is less than the width, W, of the back ear 42 by at least about 10 mm.The elastomeric layer 404 may have a longitudinal dimension that is thesame as the back ear 42 along with the width Y of the elastomeric layer404, or a longitudinal dimension that is less than the longitudinallength of the ear at any point along with the width of the elastomericlayer. In some embodiments, the elastomeric layer may have a basisweight of from about 5 to about 150 gsm, or from about 10 to about 100gsm, or less than about 150 gsm, reciting for each range every 5 gsmincrement therein.

As also illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the back ear 42 comprises anelastic region 406. The elastic region 406 is generally defined by theperimeter of an area elastically extensible in the elastomeric layer404. In case the elastomeric layer 404 has an inextensible area at anyedge in the width direction, the width, WE, of the elastic region 406 isshorter than the width, Y, of the elastomeric layer 404. In someembodiments, the area of the elastic region comprises at least about 20%of, or from about 30% to about 100% of the total area of the ear,reciting for said range every 5% increment therein. In furtherembodiments, Y (i.e., the maximum width of the elastomeric layer 404) isat least about 20% of, or from about 25% to about 85%, or from about 35%to about 100% of the total width, W, of the back ear 42, reciting foreach range every 5% increment therein. The back ear 42 may furthercomprise one or more inelastic regions. In certain embodiments, the backear 42 comprises a first inelastic region 408, which extends laterallyoutward from the inboard edge 48 and is adjacent to the elastic region406 at an inboard edge 407 of the elastic region 406. The ear mayfurther include a second inelastic region 410, which may extendlaterally inward from the outboard edge 46 and may be adjacent tooutboard edge 409 of the elastic region 406. The first and secondinelastic regions may be made of the same material(s) or differentmaterials. Referring to FIG. 2 , the length of a fastener 53 inboardedge is shown as LFP, and the length of an inboard edge 407 of theelastic region 406 is shown as LEP. In an embodiment wherein an back ear42 has an elastic region 406 with no inelastic region, LEP is the lengthof inboard edge 48 of the back ear 42.

Still referring to FIG. 2 , a reference width WS can be identified, asthe width from the junction line 412 to an inboard edge 401 of thefastener 53. In some examples, the fastener 53 may have an irregularshape or orientation, or consist of a plurality of engaging portions; insuch examples, the point at which such shape, orientation or extensibleportions are closest to a longitudinal axis of an absorbent article isconsidered the inboard edge 401 of the fastener 53.

In certain embodiments, the back ear 42 comprises a laminate comprisingmultiple layers, wherein one of the layers is strained to a greaterdegree than a remaining layer during lamination. In this way, the lessextensible layer, the nonwoven 400, 402 in case of FIG. 3 , will formgathers when the laminate is in a relaxed state. In some embodiments,the elastomeric layer is strained while the nonwoven(s) are in a relaxedstate during lamination. The elastomeric layer may be stretched one ormore directions. Corrugations then may form in the nonwoven layer(s)when the subsequently formed laminate is in a relaxed state.Non-limiting examples of the laminating suitable for the presentinvention include an extrusion bonded laminate and an ultrasonicallybonded laminate. Extrusion bonded laminates may be produced according toa conventional extrusion bonded laminate production process by extrudinga molten film directly on to a carrier such as a nonwoven. Anultrasonically bonded laminate may be produced by the process and/orequipment disclosed in U.S. Patent App. No. 62/374,010. It is to beappreciated that ultrasonically bonded elastic laminates may includevarious portions of components bonded together in various ways and withbonds having differing or identical bond patterns. Non-limiting examplesof ultrasonically bonded laminates comprising a bond pattern includethose disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/674,561 filed onAug. 11, 2017 or an equivalent PCT application No. US2017/46398 filed onAug. 11, 2017.

A laminate useful for the present invention may further comprise areinforcement layer to improve strength of the laminate. Non-limitingexamples of such laminates are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/674,575 filed on Aug. 11, 2017 or an equivalent PCT applicationNo. US2017/46393 filed on Aug. 11, 2017.

In certain embodiments, the laminate useful for the present invention isproduced without using glue. Laminates with substantially no glue may bepreferable with respect to lower potential malodor issue, productioncost, process complexity and process contamination with glue. In otherembodiments, the laminate for the present invention is a non-activatedlaminate produced without conducting a laminate activation step.“Activated” or “activation”, when used relative a laminate for a backear herein, means the mechanical deformation of a plastically extensiblelaminate that results in permanent elongation of the laminate, in thedirection of activation in the X-Y plane of the laminate. For example,activation occurs when a laminate is subjected to a stress that causesthe laminate to strain beyond the onset of plasticity, which may or maynot include complete mechanical failure of the laminate or a portion oflaminate. Activation of a laminate that includes an elastic materialjoined to a plastically extensible material typically results inpermanent deformation of the plastic material, while the elasticmaterial returns substantially to its original dimension. Activationprocesses include incremental stretching and SELFing. “Incrementalstretching” means a process in which a web material is controllablyplastically stretched in increments along one or more directions bybeing passed under tension between the surfaces of a pair of stretchingmembers having continuously intermeshing ridges and valleys, or otherintermeshing features as described for example, in U.S. Pat. Pub. No.2013/0082418 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,897. Ring-rolling is a type ofincremental stretching. “SELF” or “structured elastic-like film” means aprocess in which a web material is controllably plastically stretched inincrements along one or more directions by being passed under tensionbetween the surfaces of a pair of stretching members havingdiscontinuously intermeshing ridges and valleys, or other features asdescribed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,432.

In another method, elastic laminates may be consolidated orpre-contracted laminates where an elastic material is strained prior tobeing bonded to a nonwoven layer. The elastic material, for example whenit is film may be pre-activated before being laminated with nonwovenlayer(s) to create a plurality of cracks and tears in the skins at amicroscopic scale. In turn, these cracks and tears may help reduce theskin contribution to the extension forces. Pre-activation of film may beperformed by for example, a process disclosed in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/674,625 filed on Aug. 11, 2017 equivalent to PCT applicationNo. US2017/46397 filed on Aug. 11, 2017.

In nonlimiting examples, the elastomeric layer is stretched in adirection corresponding with the lateral direction of the article. Inother words, when the ear is joined to the chassis subsequent tolamination, the ear laminate will be oriented such that the ear isstretchable in the lateral direction of the article. In furthernonlimiting examples, the ear is also stretchable in the longitudinaldirection.

Back ear 42 may be attached to an absorbent article in any suitablemanner, including, but not limited to, continuous or intermittentadhesive bonding, compression bonding, heat bonding, ultrasonic bonding,etc.

Back ears in absorbent articles according to the present invention havean engineering strain equal to or greater than about 8%, or greater thanabout 10% at about or below 2N of force when measured according to theBack Ear Extension Test. It was noticed that some users tend not tofully utilize the extension property of the back ear which results inpoor sustained fit and a potential leakage problem. An engineeringstrain at about or below 2N may be meaningful as 2N is considered anaverage force some users initially apply on diaper when the users applydiapers on wearers. When the back ears have an engineering strain lowerthan 8% at about or below 2N, users may perceive the back ears do notprovide enough extensibility. In some embodiments, a back ear extends atleast about 10 mm at about or below 2N of force measured according tothe Back Ear Extension Test described later. The at least about 10 mmextensibility at about or below 2N may communicate noticeableextensibility of the back ear.

Back ears in absorbent articles according to the present invention havean engineering strain less than about 50%, or less than about 40% atabout or below 4N of force when measured according to the Back EarExtension Test described later. If the force to extend a back ear doesnot increase sufficiently such that the back ear extends more than about50% at about or below 4N, users may perceive the absorbent article islow quality, or that the back ears are weak and may break during use.Additionally, back ears that extend more than about 50% at about orbelow 4N may lead to poor sustained fit, increased sagging, and leakage.An engineering strain at about or above 4N may be meaningful as 4N isconsidered almost the maximum force some users apply on diaper when theusers apply diapers on wearers.

Back ears in absorbent articles according to the present invention havea roughness Ra equal to or lower than about 300 μm, equal to or lowerthan about 150 μm, or equal to or lower than about 100 μm when measuredaccording to the Roughness Test. When the roughness of a back ear ishigher than about 300 μm, it may be perceived or felt the back ear isharsh and is not gentle to the skin.

Back ears in absorbent articles according to the present invention mayhave a 4 hr growth in the range of about 1% to about 20%, or about 1% toabout 10%, or about 1% to about 5% when measured according to the 4 hrGrowth Test. When the 4 hr growth (%) of a back ear is lower than 20%,10% or lower than 5%, the diaper having the back ears may be less proneto slip or sag about a wearer.

For the purposes of providing holistic material integrity, the back earsin use status may have about 70% of opacity, or about 75% of opacity.

As noted in the Background, back ears of a diaper may be designed andsituated to wrap around a wearer's hips. As a result, they may be incontact with the skin at the wearer's hips while the diaper is beingworn. Additionally, while a diaper is being worn the back ears willsustain and transfer varying tension forces, particularly when thewearer is active and bending at the hips. These tension forces havenormal force components acting on the wearer's skin. Thus, it may bedesirable that the material forming the skin-contacting portions of aback ear 42 be selected with the objectives of appropriately designedextensibility, pliability and an even surface area. Increasing thesevariables generally may help to provide for sustained fit, improveundesired sag and/or leakage of bodily exudates, and reduce thelikelihood of skin marking and chafing.

Test Method

Preparation of Back Ear Specimens

1. Open a diaper.

2. If the back ear is attached to an article, cut it free from thearticle at a location sufficiently inboard of the junction line so thata tensile tester's grip can sufficiently grasp the specimen for thetesting beyond the junction line. If the back ear is an integral part ofa chassis, identify the junction line and mark a line on the back earcoincident with the junction line, and cut it free from the article at alocation sufficiently inboard of the junction line so that a tensiletester's grip can sufficiently grasp the specimen for the testing beyondthe junction line. For Back Ear Extension Test, continue steps 3-4below.

3. Lay the back ear on a substantially flat, horizontal surface andmeasure width WS as described herein, with no lateral tension forceapplied to the back ear.

4. Measure lengths LFP and LEP as described herein to the nearest 1 mm,with a steel ruler traceable to NIST or an equivalent.

5. Mark a midpoint of LFP. The midpoint is at ½ of LFP.

Back Ear Extension Test

An engineering strain and an extension of a back ear specimen ismeasured using a constant rate of extension tensile tester with computerinterface such as MTS Alliance under Test Works 4 software (MTS SystemsCorp., USA) fitted with a suitable load cell. The load cell should beselected to operate within 10% and 90% of its stated maximum load. Alltesting is performed in a conditioned room maintained at about 23° C.±2°C. and about 50%±2% relative humidity. Herein, width and length of thespecimen are a lateral width and longitudinal length as defined herein.Precondition specimens at about 23° C.±2° C. and about 50%±2% relativehumidity for 2 hours prior to testing.

1. Insert the outboard edge of the back ear including a fastener intothe upper clamp in the tester such that the clamp is centered in thetensile tester fixture, and engage the clamp to grip the specimen. Theclamp width is at least as wide as the length of an inboard edge of thefastener, and preferably is not wider more than 1 inch than the lengthof an inboard edge of the fastener. The face of the clamp (once it gripsthe specimen) is aligned with the inboard edge of the fastener to within1 mm, the longitudinal midpoint of LFP is aligned with the center of theclamp, and the unclamped portion of the back ear hangs freely downwardfrom the upper clamp.

2. Insert the inboard edge of the back ear into the lower clamp in thetensile tester. The lower clamp width is chosen such that no portion ofthe back ear extends beyond the width of the clamp, and preferably thelower clamp width is not wider more than 1 inch than the length of theportion of the back ear inserted into the clamp. The face of the clamp(once it grips the specimen) is aligned with the junction line 412 towithin 1 mm, and the specimen is oriented such that if a lateral lineperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the diaper having the back earwere drawn from the midpoint of LFP, it would extend vertically andalign with the center of the fixture holding the lower clamp.

3. Extend the jaws of the tensile tester such that the distance betweenthe face of the upper clamp and face of the lower clamp is equal to WS.Set gage length equal to WS.

4. Zero the crosshead location and load, and engage the lower clamp togrip the specimen.

5. Set the tensile tester to extend the specimen at a rate of 254mm/minute and collect data at a frequency of at least 100 hz.

6. Initiate the test such that the tensile tester's clamp extends thespecimen at the defined rate and data including extension and load iscollected into a data file.

7. Measure an extension, a distance extended from a zero-point, underload at 2N, and determine an engineering strain under load at 2N,calculated as100%×[extension at 2N load/WS (at no lateral tension load)].

8. Measure an extension under load at 4N, and determine an engineeringstrain under load at 4N, calculated as100%×[extension at 4N load/WS (at no lateral tension load)].

9. In like fashion, a total of three (3) replicate samples are testedfor each test product to be evaluated. Report the extension as the meanof the replicates to the nearest 0.1 cm, and engineering strain as themean of the replicates to the nearest 0.1 unit.

4 hr Growth Test

A 4 hr growth of a back ear specimen is measured using a clamp affixedto a vertical stand, and an appropriate weight to deliver a total of408+/−1 grams on the back ear specimen. The vertical stand and weightare configured such that when a back ear specimen is attached fortesting, the back ear specimen can at least double in length, or atleast increase in length by 100 mm (whichever is larger) without theweight contacting the table, floor, or base of the stand.

1. Prepare a back ear specimen referring to Preparation of Back EarSpecimens above and FIG. 5A.

2. Insert the outboard edge of the back ear specimen including afastener into the clamp on the vertical stand such that the back earspecimen is centered with the vertical stand, and engage the clamp togrip the specimen. The clamp width is at least as wide as the length ofan inboard edge of the fastener, and preferably is not wider than 1 inchmore than the length of an inboard edge of the fastener. The face of theclamp (once it grips the specimen) is aligned with the inboard edge ofthe fastener to within 1 mm, the longitudinal midpoint of LFP is alignedwith the center of the clamp, and the unclamped portion of the back earhangs freely downward from the clamp.

3. Record the distance from the inboard edge of the fastener to thejunction line as the back ear width.

4. Attach the weight to the inboard edge of the back ear using a clamp.The clamp width is chosen such that no portion of the back ear extendsbeyond the width of the clamp, and preferably the clamp width is notwider than 1 inch more than the length of the portion of the back earinserted into the clamp. The face of the clamp (once it grips thespecimen) is aligned with the junction line to within 1 mm, and thespecimen is oriented such that if a lateral line were drawn from themidpoint of LFP, it would extend vertically and align with the center ofthe clamp. The clamp and weight together should be chosen to apply408+/−1 grams on the back ear specimen. The weight must be hanging freeand unobstructed without resting on any object.

5. Within 5 seconds of attaching the weight and releasing it to hangfrom the back ear, record the distance from the inboard edge of thefastener to the junction line as Extension at Time 0.

6. Allow the back ear specimen to sit undisturbed for 4 hours. After 4hours, measure the distance from the inboard edge of the fastener to thejunction line as Extension at 4 hr.

7. Repeat steps 1-6 for 5 back ear specimens. Calculate 4 hrGrowth=Average ([Extension at 4 hr]−[Extension at Time 0])

8. Calculate 4 hr Growth (%)=Average (([Extension at 4 hr]−[Extension atTime 0])/[Back Ear Width]×100)

Roughness Test

1. Prepare a back ear specimen referring to steps 1 and 2 in thePreparation of Back Ear Specimens above and FIG. 5A.

2. Referring to FIG. 5B, fix the back ear specimen 420 to a paperboard502 with the garment-facing surface 120 facing down using, for example,one or more staples 504, along the junction line 412 to ensure that theentire length of the back ear specimen 420 is stapled without largegaps.

3. Insert the inboard edge 401 of the fastener 53 into the clamp 506.

4. Apply 2N (1N=102 gf) force to the specimen 420 in a verticaldirection by clamping an appropriate weight 508 to deliver a total of204+1 grams on the back ear specimen 420. The total of 204+1 grams ofweight includes a weight of clamp 506.

5. Referring to FIG. 5C, fix the other side of the back ear specimen420, to the paperboard 502 under the stretch condition of step 3 using,for example, one or more staples 504 to ensure that the entire length ofthe back ear specimen 420 is stapled without large gaps.

6. Release the clamp 506 and weight 508.

7. Determine a 4 cm×2 cm rectangle test area 424 according to below.

-   -   1) Referring to FIG. 5D, identify a centerline 512 of a fastener        53 parallel with a lateral axis of the diaper. Identify lines        514 and 516 parallel with the centerline 512 and 20 mm away from        the centerline 512 toward a first lateral edge 41 and an        opposing second lateral edge 43 of the specimen 420,        respectively.    -   2) Identify a line 522 parallel with a longitudinal axis of the        diaper and WS/10 outwardly away from the junction line 412.        Identify a line 524 parallel with the line 522 and 20 mm        outwardly away from 522 toward the outboard edge 46.    -   3) Determine a rectangle surrounded by lines 514, 516, 522 and        524 as a test area 424 having 20 mm of Tw and 40 mm of TL.

8. Capture the surface image of the test area 424 of the back earspecimen 420 with an optical profilometer such as KEYENCE 3D MeasurementMacroscope VR 3200 (Keyence, JP) with a magnification of 12× under “autostitching mode” or an equivalent mode.

9. Retrieve the surface image with a software provided by the opticalprofilometer and review the obtained image. Fit a reference plane byselecting the whole test area 424 identified in step 7 which means theplane that is closet to the shape of the test area is now defined as thezero height plane or reference plane. Mark five lines parallel with alateral axis of the diaper with a length of 20 mm as sampling lengthacross the test area to evenly divide the test area 424 to six smallerrectangular areas with a similar dimension. Set the cut-off wavelengthvalue as λ_(S)=none, λ_(C)=20 mm, these values are parameters toeliminate short (λ_(S)) or long (λ_(C)) wavelength effects, “λ_(C)=20mm” means the wavelength larger than the sampling length, 20 mm herein,will be eliminated.

10. Ra (arithmetic mean deviation of the assessed profile within thesampling length, complies with roughness definition in ISO4287:1997 3.2Surface Texture Parameters) for each line are calculated automaticallyaccording to the equations below.

${Ra} = {\frac{1}{L}{\int_{0}^{L}{{❘(x)❘}{dx}}}}$Referring to FIG. 6 , |Xi| is an absolute height of the profile at apoint i, and L is the sampling length.

11. In like fashion, a total of five (5) replicate specimens are testedfor each test product to be evaluated. Report the Ra with the mean valueof the replicates.

Opacity Test

Opacity may be measured using a 0° illumination/45° detection,circumferential optical geometry, spectrophotometer such as aSpectroguide 6801 spectrophotometer (BKY Gardner, Germany). Instrumentcalibration and measurements are made using the standard white and blackcalibration plates provided by the vendor. All testing is performed in aroom maintained at about 23±2° C. and about 50±5% relative humidity.

The spectrophotometer is configured for the XYZ color scale, D65illuminant, 10° standard observer, with UV filter set to nominal. Theinstrument is standardized according to the manufacturer's proceduresusing the 1 cm view area.

1. Fix a back ear specimen to a paperboard having a 2 cm×2 cm window cutout of the center according to steps 1-3 in the Roughness Test above.The specimen should be aligned with the window such that when stretchedthe portion of the specimen visible through the window is centeredbetween the LFP and LEP.

2. Place the specimen over the black plate, and place thespectrophotometer over the specimen, centered in the 2 cm window in thepaperboard. The specimen should completely cover the measurement portwith garment-facing surface directed toward port).

3. Press the “set” button.

4. Move the specimen and spectrophotometer to the white plate withoutmoving the specimen's position in the measurement port, and press the“measure” button. Opacity is reported automatically. Opacities of 5different samples per specimen are measured and the average of the 5opacity tests is used.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Diapers

Back Ear Material 1

Back ear material 1 including a first nonwoven and second nonwoven, andan elastomeric film sandwiched between the first and second nonwoven wasprepared. Each of the first and second nonwoven were 17 gsm SMSavailable from Avgol, USA under tradename AVMN1048007001. The nonwovenshad an average basis weight of 16.9±0.6 gsm. The elastomeric film was 40gsm X38824 available from Tredegar Corporation, USA. The film having awidth of 45 mm in a relaxed condition was stretched to 80% strain (i.e.,45 mm stretched to about 81 mm). In its stretched state, the width grewby about 3 mm due to set. While the film was stretched as described, thefirst and second nonwoven which were relaxed were ultrasonically bondedthrough the film using the bonding pattern shown in FIG. 4 and anultrasonic bond pressure of 400N.

Back Ear Material 2

CozyFlex 2711GV (Golden Phoenix Fiberwebs, USA), an extrusion bondedlaminate of nonwoven and film, was used back ear material 2.

Diaper Preparation

Diapers having back ears formed by the back ear material 1 and back earmaterial 2 were prepared according to a conventional diaper productionprocess.

Example 2. Extensibility and Roughness

Table 1 shows diaper samples having back ears from various extensiblematerials. Back ears were cut off from the diaper samples, andextensibility of each back ear at 2N and 4N, and 4 hr growth (%) weremeasured according to the Back Ear Extension Test and 4 hr Growth Test,respectively. In addition, roughness of each back ear was measuredaccording to the Roughness Test. Opacity of back ears were also measuredaccording to the Opacity Measurement. Results are shown in Table 1below.

TABLE 1 Diaper 1 Diaper 2 Back ear Back ear Back ear material material 1material 2 Diaper 3*¹ Diaper 4*² Diaper 5*³ Diaper 6*⁴ WS*⁵ 73 74 76 8263 57 Extension at 8.1 7.5 3.4 4.7 4.2 6.8 2N (mm) engineering 11.1 10.14.5 5.7 6.7 11.9 strain at 2N Extension at 27.0 26.1 10.0 9.1 6.2 18.74N (mm) engineering 37.1 35.3 13.1 10.9 9.9 32.7 strain at 4N 4 hrgrowth (%) 4.1 29.1 18.5 1.9 7.1 21.2 Ra (μm) 174 45 39 20 183 376Opacity at 2N 79.84 71.40 76.60 47.58 77.56 69.76 *¹PAMPERS 

 (Procter and Gamble, China) *²HARGGIS 

 (Kimberly Clerk, China) *³MERRIS (Kao, China) *⁴MERRIS 

 (Kao, China) *⁵WS at no lateral tension load

Example 3. Fitness and Stretchability

Fitness and stretchability of diapers were measured usingcharacteristics including those specified in Table 2 with 20 panels whorated the intensity of the discrete product characteristics on a 0-100using all their senses. Data is reported as means for the entire group.Results are shown in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Diaper 2 Diaper 3 Overall Fit (1-100) 79 75 Stretchiness (% JR)*¹ 79 74 Overall size when applied to 68 63 the baby (% JR) *¹ Fit atWaist (% JR) *¹ 79 74 (% JR) *¹: % replying “Just Right”

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood asbeing strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead,unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean boththe recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding thatvalue. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or relatedpatent or application and any patent application or patent to which thisapplication claims priority or benefit thereof, is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded orotherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission thatit is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimedherein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other referenceor references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention.Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in thisdocument conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in adocument incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assignedto that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An absorbent article comprising: a chassiscomprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, anabsorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet; a first anda second opposing longitudinal side edge, a front waist region and aback waist region; a first back ear extending outwardly from the firstlongitudinal side edge in the back waist region; a second back earextending outwardly from the second longitudinal side edge in the backwaist region; wherein each of the first and second back ears comprise alaminate comprising an elastomeric film sandwiched between a firstnonwoven layer and a second nonwoven layer; wherein each of the firstand second back ears has an engineering strain greater than about 8% atabout or below 2N of force when measured according to the Back EarExtension Test described herein, wherein each of the first and secondback ears have a roughness Ra lower than about 300 μm when measuredaccording to the Roughness Test described herein.
 2. The absorbentarticle of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second back ears hasan engineering strain greater than about 10% at about or below 2N offorce when measured according to the Back Ear Extension Test describedherein.
 3. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein each of the firstand second back ears has a roughness Ra lower than about 150 whenmeasured according to the Roughness Test described herein.
 4. Theabsorbent article of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second backears has an engineering strain less than about 50% at about or below 4Nof force when measured according to the Back Ear Extension Testdescribed herein.
 5. The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein each ofthe first and second back ears has an engineering strain less than about40% at about 4N of force when measured according to the Back EarExtension Test described herein.
 6. The absorbent article of claim 1,wherein the laminate is an extrusion bonded laminate.
 7. The absorbentarticle of claim 1, wherein the laminate is an ultrasonically bondedlaminate.
 8. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the laminate isvoid of glue.
 9. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the laminateis a non-activated laminate.
 10. The absorbent article of claim 1,wherein each of the first and second back ears have about 1% to about20% of a 4 hr growth when measured according to the 4 hr Growth Testdescribed herein.
 11. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein thefirst and second back ears have an opacity of at least 70 when measuredaccording to the Opacity Test described herein.
 12. The absorbentarticle of claim 1, wherein the first and second back ears are joined toat least one component of the chassis.
 13. The absorbent article ofclaim 1, wherein the first and second back ears are integral with thechassis.
 14. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein at least one backear comprises an extension of at least about 10 mm at about or below 2Nof force when measured according to the Back Ear Extension Testdescribed herein.
 15. An absorbent article comprising a chassiscomprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, anabsorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet; first andsecond opposing longitudinal side edges, a front waist region and a backwaist region; a first back ear extending outwardly from the firstlongitudinal side edge in the back waist region; a second back earextending outwardly from the second longitudinal side edge in the backwaist region; wherein each of the first and second back ears comprise alaminate having an elastomeric film sandwiched between a first nonwovenlayer and a second nonwoven layer; wherein each of the first and secondback ears has an engineering strain greater than about 8% at about orbelow 2N of force when measured according to the Back Ear Extension Testdescribed herein, and wherein each of the first and second back earshave about 1% to about 20% of a 4 hr growth when measured according tothe 4 hr Growth Test described herein.
 16. An absorbent articlecomprising: a chassis comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquidimpervious backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheetand backsheet; first and second opposing longitudinal side edges, afront waist region and a back waist region; a first back ear extendingoutwardly from the first longitudinal side edge in the back waistregion; a second back ear extending outwardly from the secondlongitudinal side edge in the back waist region; wherein each of thefirst and second back ears comprise a laminate comprising an elastomericfilm sandwiched between a first nonwoven layer and a second nonwovenlayer; wherein at least one of the first and second back ears has anextension of at least about 10 mm at about or below 2N of force whenmeasured according to the Back Ear Extension Test described herein,wherein at least one of the first and second back ears has about 1% toabout 20% of a 4 hr growth when measured according to the 4 hr GrowthTest described herein.
 17. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein theat least one of the first and second back ears comprises an extension ofat least about 20 mm at about or below 4N of force.
 18. The absorbentarticle of claim 16 the at least one of the first and second back earscomprises a non-activated laminate.
 19. The absorbent article of claim16, wherein the at least one of the first and second back ears have anopacity of at least 70 when measured according to the Opacity Testdescribed herein.
 20. The absorbent article of claim 16, wherein theelastomeric film is of smaller size than the first nonwoven and secondnonwoven layers.
 21. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein thelaminate comprises a single elastomeric film sandwiched between a singlefirst non-woven layer and a single second non-woven layer that extend ina longitudinal direction from a first lateral edge to a second lateraledge of each of the first and second back ears.
 22. The absorbentarticle of claim 1, wherein the chassis is defined by a longitudinalcenterline and a lateral centerline that is orthogonal to thelongitudinal centerline and wherein the elastomeric film is extendablein a lateral direction that is parallel to the lateral centerline.